Chesterfield

Chesterfield's population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in health, religion and housing tenure.

The population passed 100,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Chesterfield increased by 5.0%, from just over 98,800 to 104,000.

The addition of just over 4,900 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Chesterfield was home to, on average, 11 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Chesterfield

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Chesterfield increased by three years, from 39 to 42 years.

This industrial area had a higher average age than the East Midlands and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 3,100 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 2,000.

About 12% of people in Chesterfield are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Chesterfield by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Chesterfield, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.6% to 11% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in three (33%) households had only one person, compared with 32% in 2001. The percentage of households in Chesterfield which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 37% to 32%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 8.7% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Chesterfield increased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Chesterfield, the East Midlands and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

Long hour working fell in Chesterfield, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the East Midlands.

Every local authority area across the East Midlands saw a fall in the proportion of people working long hours, as the regional average fell from 14% to 10%.

During this period, Chesterfield fell below five local authority areas, including Broxtowe and Lincoln, to become the East Midlands local authority area with the ninth-lowest percentage of long hours workers.

Long hour working in Chesterfield decreased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Chesterfield, the East Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Chesterfield residents that were unemployed increased from 4.5% to 4.7% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (53%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 52% in 2001. The percentage of Chesterfield residents that were self-employed increased from 6.2% to 7.4%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 3.4% in 2001 to 4.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were unemployed across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

Chesterfield saw the East Midlands' third-largest fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad.

In 2011, just under 1 in 13 (7.6%) in Chesterfield said their health was bad or very bad, compared with 12% in 2001. The percentage that perceived their health as good or very good increased from 62% to 76%.

Across the region, only Bolsover (from 14% to 8.6%) and Nottingham (from 11% to 6.5%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

Every local authority area across the East Midlands saw a fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad, as the regional average fell from 9.4% to 5.7%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Chesterfield decreased by 4.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Chesterfield, the East Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Chesterfield

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 29% said they had no religion. An increase from 14% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Chesterfield.

Across the East Midlands, the percentage of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from 17% to 29%, while across England the percentage went from 16% to 27%.

Around 69% of those who disclosed their religion in Chesterfield said they were Christian, down from 85% in 2001. About 0.2% said they were Sikh, up from 0.1% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation fell from 8.6% to 7.9% between the last two censuses.

In Chesterfield, 7.9% chose not to disclose their religious affiliation. In East Midlands the percentage was 7.4% and across England the percentage was 7.7%.

The population without a religion in Chesterfield increased by 14 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Chesterfield by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Chesterfield

The percentage of Chesterfield residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 8.2% to 7.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 20 (5.0%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 4.1% in 2001. The percentage of Chesterfield residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 88% to 87%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 7.3% in 2001 to 6.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Chesterfield at a faster rate than in North East Derbyshire (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Chesterfield).

In Chesterfield, the proportion of private renting increased from 6.2% in 2001 to 12% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby North East Derbyshire increased from 3.9% to 7.4%.

Across the East Midlands, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in Chesterfield fell from 26% to 23%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 66% to 63%.

Private renting in Chesterfield increased by 6.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Chesterfield, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Chesterfield

The percentage of single people in Chesterfield increased from 26% to 32% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in two (47%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 53% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Chesterfield that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 12% to 13%.

The proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 28% in 2001 to 32% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 30% to 35%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Chesterfield

In 2011, 97% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. An increase from 98% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Chesterfield.

Across the East Midlands, the percentage of residents from the White ethnic groups fell from 93% to 89%, while across England the percentage went from 91% to 85%.

Around 1.5% of people in Chesterfield said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from 0.8% in 2001. About 1.1% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from 0.7% 10 years prior.

The percentage of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups rose from 0.3% to 0.8% between the last two censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Chesterfield decreased by 1.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Chesterfield by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Chesterfield residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.4% to 1.7% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 2.7%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 1.2% in 2001 to 1.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Chesterfield remained close to 1.7%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Chesterfield by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Chesterfield with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 9.5% to 9.2% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in four (27%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 28% in 2001. While the percentage of households in Chesterfield without children increased from 63% to 64%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 9.3% in 2001 to 9.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

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